This is a unique challenge blog where we are inspired by and focus on the Vintage; shabby; mixed-media; art journaling; industrial, timeworn and steampunk genres and encompass the talent, flair, expertise and ideas of many artists that we are inspired by. We welcome all types of projects - cards, journaling, assemblage, layouts, albums, atcs, altered art in fact whatever you want to share (as long as it is in good taste).

That's what I would call a 'happy' bag of goodies!
It's time to get messy and create my textural, crackled tag.

The tag is covered with plaster moulding to create all that fabulous deep texture.
Warning: Though effective it is quite messy!!

The Tag
I roughly sketched out a circular area in the centre of the tag that would remain free of plaster as this would be the flat space in which I would position my focal feature later. I then applied the plaster moulding to the tag.

Here's how:
Prep a bowl of warm water and cut lengths off the plaster roll. Alternately you can cut as you go, like I did and just 'embrace the 'messy'.

Working with one length of plaster at a time place into the warm water for a few seconds and remove. Don't drench or soak or the plaster will just become a 'gungy' mess that's hard to work. You will see and feel the plaster sheet 'soften' and become more pliable.

See the difference: dry (to the left), wet (to the right)

Apply the wet plaster sheet to your substrate either by keeping it flat for an even texture or by laying it down unevenly with lots of lumps and bumps to create deeper texture - as I did with my tag . Repeat the process until you are happy with the depth of texture you have achieved.
The plaster will set hard almost immediately but will need to dry thoroughly as it will still hold moisture from the water.
I actually altered my tag with plaster mould and stained it up some time at the end of last year for another project I had in mind at that time so I was at all ready to re paint my tag and get crackling.
I re-painted with a couple of coats of black Acrylic paint. Once dry I applied a layer of matte medium to give added adhesion for the crackle paint that was coming next.

Though the instructions say to apply the Crackle paint with a soft brush I applied it with both a spatula and my fingers as I find both easier to use with this type of medium. As with most crackle mediums crackle paint is no different - the size of the cracks varies based on the thickness of application .
I always leave crackle mediums to air dry as personally I think allowing the process to happen naturally creates better results .

Once the cracks formed they seemed to take on a creamy yellow hue- I guess some of the colours of the stain (oranges and yellows) I had used when I initially coloured the plastered tag last year had permeated through!

Not really a problem as after applying another coat of matte medium to seal the crackle I applied another coat of Black Acrylic paint to cover and then used silver gilding wax to enhance the cracks and texture.
Lets get you up close to see

all the peaks and troughs

and all those crevices and cracks!

The Focal Feature
I die cut a large circle, painted it with black Acrylic paint and stamped onto it using an Andy Skinner crackle stamp.

I die cut a few smaller circles adhered them together to give sturdiness and painted them black.
I used the same crackle technique as I had for the tag:
coat with matte medium,
apply crackle paint quite thickly with spatula, leave to dry,
seal crackle with matte medium.

I adhered the cracked circles on top of each other and topped with an Tim Holtz Ideology Ornate plate that I altered with black alcohol ink touched up with silver gilding wax.
An Ideology Quote chip sits atop with silver brads to fasten.

This was then adhered into the centre of the tag with foam pads and 2 screw eyes were nestled into the top and bottom to finish off.

As for the tag tie, well, nothing I had in my stash seemed to look right (and it has to be right) so until I find that certain something it will remain as is.
I do hope you like my textural crackled tag -I had a great time creating it!

Thank you for accompanying me on the 3rd leg of this months Destination Inspiration. I hope I and my fellow Creative Guides, Nikki (Terminal 1) and Annie (Terminal 2) have offered you some creative inspiration. Be sure to pop back next Monday when a fellow Creative Guide will be ready to greet you at Terminal 4, the final stop of this months journey. Our latest challenge 'Melt It' is currently underway and we hope you will be able to join us . We always look forward to seeing all your entries. Details and inspirational projects can be found here .Wishing you all a great week

26 comments:

What a gorgeous black crackled tag Amanda! That plaster is so thick and gives such great texture - the black and white contrasts make this quite stunning the the LOST Quote Chip is so appropriate (we are more likely to get lost in darkness right?!! A lovely tag using the supplies in your travel bag! Julia xx

Wow - stunning texture, Amanda - so cool to see the plaster in action. I have some sitting at home, and am now very sad I'll have to wait two months to play with it!! Fabulous drama with the b&w crackle too - great work with this month's travel bag contents.Alison x

Oh wow Amanda what an absolutely amazing tag!! I remember working with that plaster stuff many moons ago when making masks with a group of youngsters and had quite forgotten about it, it works brilliantly on your tag, and the effects you achieved with the black paint and silver gilding wax are just the perfect backdrop to that stunning focal point. The addition of the crackle makes it even more effective! The content of the travel bag was ofcourse just right for you, and you have used it with the most amazing result, - brilliant!!

Fantastic details on your tag Amanda x Love the moulded plaster's texture, complete with the black paint and silver g/wax. The focal point is so wonderful with amazing crackle...great use of the travel bag contents and a super step by step too.

You really have created the most wonderful texture with the plaster sheet and I love the contrast between that and the beautiful light crackled centre - the whole piece has such wonderful drama, it is gorgeous! Anne xx